Director of Residence Life in Bluefield, Virginia at Bluefield University

Position Summary

The Director of Residence Life provides leadership, vision, and oversight for all aspects of the residential living program. This position is responsible for creating a safe, engaging, and student-centered residential community that supports student success, personal development, and campus involvement. The Director supervises residence life staff, manages housing operations, oversees student conduct within the residence halls, and coordinates educational and community-building initiatives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Residential Operations

• Oversee the daily operations of all residence halls and campus housing facilities.
• Manage housing assignments, room changes, occupancy management, and residential records.
• Coordinate opening, closing, and break housing procedures.
• Conduct regular inspections of residence halls to ensure safety, cleanliness, and policy compliance.
• Collaborate with Facilities and Campus Safety regarding maintenance, safety concerns, and emergency response procedures.
• Oversee furniture inventory, key management, painting, room damages, and damage assessments.
• During the summer months, work closely with Maintenance and Facilities staff to identify, oversee, and correct residence hall issues including furniture repairs/replacement, key and lock concerns, painting projects, facility damages, and overall hall readiness for the upcoming academic year.

Staff Supervision and Development

• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate Residence Directors, Resident Assistants, and other residence life staff.
• Facilitate monthly training and professional development sessions with Residence Life staff.
• Conduct monthly one-on-one meetings with Residence Life staff members to provide support, accountability, mentorship, and performance feedback.
• Provide ongoing staff development and leadership training opportunities.
• Provide on-call supervision and support for residence life staff.
• Develop work schedules and duty rotations for professional and student staff.

Student Development and Community Building

• Foster a positive residential environment focused on student engagement, inclusion, and success.
• Develop and implement programming initiatives that support personal growth, leadership, wellness, and community development.
• Encourage student involvement in campus activities and organizations.
• Mediate roommate conflicts and assist students with personal or community concerns.

Conduct and Policy Administration

• Enforce university housing policies and student conduct expectations.
• Conduct student conduct meetings related to residential policy violations.
• Maintain accurate conduct documentation and follow-up procedures.
• Review and recommend updates to residence life policies and procedures.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Assist in developing and managing the residence life budget.
• Maintain accurate occupancy, conduct, and programming records.
• Prepare reports and assessments related to housing operations and student engagement.
• Participate in university committees, meetings, and special events.
• Assist with orientation, admissions events, and student retention initiatives.

Crisis Response and Student Support

• Respond to student emergencies, crises, and behavioral concerns.
• Participate in an on-call rotation for after-hours emergencies.
• Work collaboratively with Counseling Services, Campus Safety, Academic Affairs, and other departments to support student wellbeing.
• Provide support and referrals for students experiencing personal difficulties.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, Education, or related field.
• Experience in residence life, housing, student conduct, or student affairs.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive situations with professionalism and confidentiality.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or related field.
• Supervisory experience in a college or university setting.
• Experience with housing management software and student conduct systems.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of student development theory and best practices in residence life.
• Strong crisis management and conflict resolution abilities.
• Ability to supervise and mentor student leaders and professional staff.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to build relationships with students, faculty, staff, and families.

Working Conditions

• Evening and weekend hours may be required.
• Participation in an on-call rotation is required.
• Frequent walking throughout campus residence halls.
• Ability to respond to emergencies in a timely manner.

Mission Alignment

The Director of Residence Life supports the mission of the university by promoting a residential community that encourages academic success, personal responsibility, leadership development, and student engagement.

Performance Standards

• Subject to annual evaluation based upon the job duties, responsibilities, and functions set forth above.
• Expected to maintain professionalism, confidentiality, and ethical conduct in all areas of responsibility.
• Expected to effectively support the mission and goals of the university and the Office of Residence Life.
• Expected to maintain effective working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and campus partners.

Approvals

The job duties, responsibilities, functions and requirements delineated above should not be interpreted as an all-inclusive list of same. Additional duties, responsibilities, functions, and requirements delineated above should not be interpreted as an all-inclusive list of same. Additional duties, responsibilities, functions, and requirements may be assigned as deemed appropriate. Bluefield University reserves the right to change or reassign job duties, responsibilities, and functions, or combine positions at any time. In accordance with the American with Disabilities Act, it is possible that requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodation will be made which may pose serious health or safety risk to the employee or other or which impose undue hardships on Bluefield University. Position descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contacts. Bluefield maintains its status as an at-will employer.

Additional information about Bluefield University is available at www.bluefield.edu.

Bluefield University is a Christ-centered learning community developing servant leaders to transform the world. We are looking to hire employees who will embrace this mission.

Bluefield University is a private, not-for-profit institution affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Bluefield University shall not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other basis on which the University is prohibited from discrimination under local, state, or federal law, in its employment or in the provision of its services, including but not limited to its programs and activities, admissions, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other University-administered programs. This institution encourages women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to apply.